Best European Destinations for Students

Being a student is hard. We all deserve a little break every now and then but when you’ve spent your student loan on rent and online shopping, is there really enough cash to spare on a little break away? Sometimes the answer is yes, and I’m here to tell you just where can your student budget can take you.

Top tips:

Stay a little further outside of the city centre for cheaper hotel rates (but not so far you’ll need to pay extra for transport each day)

Walk and cycle where possible as this tends to be cheaper than catching a tram

Travel in low season for cheaper rates

Fly early/late for cheaper travel – just make sure your hotel check-in/out times are flexible

Take advantage of student discount where possible – city passes and attractions can sometimes be discounted for students

Prague

I went to Prague in my final year of uni and it was the perfect place to visit as a student. Aside from its reputation for having cheap beer, it was full of culture and things to do, and was just the welcome break I needed after a stressful first semester. I found cheap accommodation through AirBnB, and I would definitely recommend that as an alternative to staying in a hotel. There are plenty of free and cheap activities too, meaning you won’t have to spend a fortune to keep yourself occupied.

Amsterdam

I’m visiting Amsterdam in January and I could not be more excited. With relatively cheap flights and accommodation (hostels like CityHub are a fab option for students!) you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank before you’ve even arrived. Once you’re there, walking and cycling are the easiest ways of traveling the city, which can definitely be done on the cheap. Many hotels offer cycle hire but there are tons of places to rent them too. Don’t spend your budget in coffee shops and there’ll be plenty to go round on more important things; like food and drinks of course.

Paris

With Eurostar offering cheap tickets from London, you can spend a day or two in Paris and still feel like you’ve had a welcome break and seen all the sights. It may not be as cheap as some European cities, but it’s got the undeniable romantic factor that’s secretly on all our bucket lists to experience. Pick a couple of must-do activities (like climbing the Eiffel Tower or visiting Mona Lisa in the Louvre) then explore the city on foot. You’ll only need one night here so you could even splash out a little on a hotel. Student budget what?

Budapest

Famed for its architecture and romantic views, Budapest has sat firmly on my bucket list for quite some time. With flights starting from as little as £14 one way, it’s certainly an affordable student destination to travel to. Eating out tends to be cheap providing you avoid tourist hot-spots, and drinks rival those of Prague with their low prices.

Rome

With cheap flights and seriously cool sights, Rome is definitely one to visit. The Colosseum and Trevi Fountain are just two landmarks that are chock-full of history, and with everything in such close proximity to each other, you won’t have to spend a fortune on travel. Save your money for one of the many student bars in the city, and remember how hard you’ve worked this semester.

Have I included your top destination for students? Where have you been that isn’t on my list? Let me know!